Warning over Bristol to Bath cycle path after head-on smash
A WOMAN has urged cyclists to slow down on Bristol's busiest cycle path after she was hit head-on.
Kim Tanner was on her way home from work when she was hit by another cyclist on the wrong side of the track "hurtling" towards her on the Clay Bottom bend of the Bristol to Bath Cycle Path.
The accident left the 28-year-old from Staple Hill lacerated, bruised and anxious.
She told the Post that she hopes "reckless" cyclists will stick to the rules in order to avoid potentially life-threatening collisions in the future.
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Mrs Tanner said the incident took place at around 4.30pm on September 27. She said: "I was involved in a head-on collision with another cyclist who was wearing full racing gear and standing up on her pedals. She was hurtling towards me on the wrong side of a blind bend despite there being signs clearly warning cyclists to slow down and keep left. I had no time to avoid her.
"Despite my protests that she was travelling too fast and on the wrong side of the path, the woman simply said, 'these things happen'."
Mrs Tanner said that it was only after the crash that she realised her trousers were badly torn and she had sustained a six-inch laceration on her thigh.
"I began to shake, and burst into tears," she told the Post. "I had to phone my husband to come and pick me up as I was too shaken up to cycle home."
By the next day, extensive bruising had appeared on Mrs Tanner's leg.
She said: "The trauma of the incident is still causing me to shake and feel physically sick at times."
Mrs Tanner said that the shock of the accident also left her feeling anxious as she returned to the spot where she was knocked off.
She said: "I consider myself a pretty strong person. But when I got back on my bike to cycle to work on Monday, I was jumpy and anxious when anything came into my vision.
"As I approached the bend where the incident occurred, I began to feel nauseous, and slowed down to an almost complete stop.
"I feel my confidence may take some time to return and I hope that the woman who caused the collision will have learnt something from it. I hope she will refrain from such reckless cycling in future – especially if she could see the photo of my injuries."
Mrs Tanner warned that unless cyclists took more responsibility on the path, there is a danger of more serious injury or possible death.
She said: "People frequently complain to the Post about cyclists on the pavements, and, it is true, some cyclists have little regard for the safety of pedestrians. My experience has shown me that some also have scant regard for other users of cycle paths – a small child or elderly person could have been badly injured or even killed by the thoughtless woman who collided with me.
"The cycle path is not a race track and can be very busy at the start and finish of school and in the rush hour.
"Please, fellow cyclists, use some common sense and respect the cycle path etiquette to prevent a repeat of what happened to me."
Comments
by FredofoffBath
Saturday, October 13 2012, 12:12PM
“Much obliged bath1946 very enlightening.”
by bath1946
Saturday, October 13 2012, 11:58AM
“FredofoffBath, independent electrically operated wheelchair owners obtaining them from the NHS have to go to Frenchay and take a shortened road test plus answer questions on the Highway Code similar to the test that used to be (and may still be) taken by drivers of scooters (Vespas etc).
Nobody is disagreeing that discourteous cyclists are in a minority, but frightened elderly and disabled pedestrians are probably in a majority, and i sense an increasing anger against cyclists who disobey the Highway Code.”
by Geoffers007
Saturday, October 13 2012, 11:39AM
“@ Romanovich
"Here 's an idea ,why don't the BEP do a bit of investigative journalism and actually report on what they find. I would suggest they walk along the track for a couple of miles perhaps with a toddler on a small bike and an elderly relative in tow in order to give an imparial observation."
I walked the path for ten miles earlier this week and have submitted my findings, with photos, as a story to The Post. Hopefully they will publish it in a few days time, but if not, I will post it here.”
by ItIsntBristol
Saturday, October 13 2012, 11:31AM
“Please can this story be left alone now. It's literally last weeks news.”
by Bristolexpat
Saturday, October 13 2012, 11:29AM
“There are always berks out there, no matter what you're doing.
Fact of life move on.
I used to run the cycle path from temple meads every weekend as part of training for a half marathon many years ago.
You had to keep your wits about you as theres all sorts of traffic.
The only incident of note was one Sunday, Bristol Cycling Club or something like that came hurtling down like it was the Olympic Gold Medal sprint.....about 20 of em...
The last ***** nearly wiped me out and the last I saw of them was this last guy on the bike shouting at people to "Get out the way!!!"
So in summary yes, they were ******* idiots, but no, it doesnt mean all cyclists are.”
by Romanovich
Saturday, October 13 2012, 11:11AM
“Here 's an idea ,why don't the BEP do a bit of investigative journalism and actually report on what they find.
I would suggest they walk along the track for a couple of miles perhaps with a toddler on a small bike and an elderly relative in tow in order to give an imparial observation.
It seems to me to this subject extremely subjective and emotive without proper research undertaken”
by FredofoffBath
Saturday, October 13 2012, 10:46AM
“Out of interest What test do wheelchair users have to pass? Cheers”
by bath1946
Saturday, October 13 2012, 10:25AM
“I repeat, many elderly or disabled people do not use the pathways because they are afraid of the cyclists. As for those riding on the pavements the cyclists are vulnerable to a gentle, accidental nudge.If they are afraid of the cars catch the bus. Do not take it out on pedestrians, and why should wheelchair users be required to pass a test but not cyclists who are faced with the same bewildering array of signage and regulations as any other road user.”
by FredofoffBath
Friday, October 12 2012, 5:02PM
“Vixfinn my kids arent whinging wimps who get ptsd by stepping out the house
Life happens, get on with it. Anyone would think she had lost a limb. We'll all be wearing rubber wrist bands next to show support for the woman who got a bruise on the cycle path....perhaps they should be red, purple and blue? All money donated can be used to set up a protective gear loan system at strategic points along the cycle path so no one gets a boo boo.”
by vixfinn
Thursday, October 11 2012, 11:04PM
“So FredofoffBath
I assume if it happened to be your child on the right side of the track when Mme Feckwit came haring round the corner causing potentially serious injury you'd tell the child to just move on??
This fortunately ended with non too serious injury, but if this arishole had put my childs life at risk on a cycle path used by all ages then I'd have stuck the spokes where the sun don't shine :)”